Rabbits in the livestock industry face a serious and underestimated problem in Europe. The lack of specific welfare regulations has led to inhumane conditions on farms, especially in Spain, the leading producer of rabbit meat in the European Union.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has reported that 20% of rabbits die before reaching the slaughterhouse. Although rabbit meat consumption has declined in recent years, it remains the second most farmed animal slaughtered for human consumption in Europe, with 180 million rabbits a year.
Investigation on rabbit farms. Spain, 2023.
In the European livestock industry, rabbits face deplorable conditions due to the lack of specific welfare regulations. In Spain, the EU's leading rabbit meat producer, 20% of rabbits die before reaching the slaughterhouse. EFSA has condemned these conditions and the lack of improvements in rabbit welfare.
Rabbit breeding conditions in Europe are extremely cruel. Breeding does are artificially inseminated and repeatedly impregnated, causing mastitis and other health problems. Kits face high mortality rates and remain in cramped cages for their entire lives, unable to develop natural behaviors. Poor hygiene and stress contribute to all kinds of infections.
Life in precarious conditions leads to a range of diseases: pododermatitis, myxomatosis, mastitis, and parasitic infections are common. High mortality requires frequent antibiotic use, which worsens health problems. Sick or injured rabbits often do not receive adequate veterinary care.
The slaughter of rabbits is a final stage filled with cruelty. Electrical or mechanical stunning methods are not always effective and can cause prolonged suffering. Cervical dislocation is a common practice that requires skill, and can lead to slow, painful deaths if not performed correctly.
Rabbit farming in Europe, especially in Spain, is facing a significant decline. Rabbit meat consumption has dropped due to cultural factors and growing consumer empathy towards animals. The European Citizens' Initiative End The Cage Age is pushing to progressively phase out cages on farms before 2027.
We call for an end to industrial farming. With particular urgency, we demand:
Only you can help end industrial farming and put a stop to the suffering of millions of animals.
